The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-08-27
VOL. XXH.-NO. 45.

chasm OF 10 feet was out of sight in iiffy.
A correspondent from Washington Ter
ritory tells of two cougars attacking and
killing COW weighing over 700 pounds on
Peterson's farm, near Noosaek Crossing,
and of dragging the carcass distance Of
500 yards, over fallen trees, logs and brush,
task that would ordinarily have required
the services Of good yoke of CATTLE One
of the animals was subsequently killed, and
measured over L feet from the tip of his
nose to the end of his tail.
Some hunters have told me that noun
tain lions in this section will not hesitate
to attack brown or black bears if pressed
by hunger, and an Indian of the Crow
tribe has the hide of one lion which he said
he found in the Big Horn Mountains nearly
dead, and, in fact, dying from wounds re-
ceived in a long, fierce and bloody encounter
with grizzly bear. never supposed
these agile cats had sand and pluck enough
to tackle grizzly; but the redskin says
further, that while the lion was almost gone
when he found him, his body being crushed
and lacerated from the numerous and
vicious embraces of his antagonist, yet the
bear itself was stone dead, with large hole
chewed in his throat, and with great tufts
of hair and wool strewn around on the
ground, tender and affectionate clawings of
the fellow he hugged so tightly, and yet so
injudiciously.
These animals are too well known all over
the country to need further description,
but one more incident will serve i. Illus
trate their ferociousness and dangerous
character if they happen to be wounded
instead of killed outright A party of deer
hunters were out some time since among
the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains,
or rather what we call Little Horn, on the
eastern slope of the main Horn range and
had made lovely headquarters camp on
the banks of a cold and rocky rivulet,
teeming with trout, while back of them,
sloping into the air, were the timbered in
clines of the first benches of the noun
tains. About four miles distant was gi-
gantic canon or mountain rent, within the
depths of which numerous grizzlies were
known to have their dens. As the party
were after deer, however, and not bear,
they intended to steer clear Of the gorge,
confining themselves to the timbered slopes,
where numerous deer signs were visible,
and also indications of the monster blue or
true Rocky Mountain elk.
The morning after their arrival two of
the hunters-Richards and Craig-shoul-
dered their rifles and struck off across the
valley in the direction of the canon, soon
losing themselves among the clusters Of
pine timber that fringed the foothills.
Here they separated, agreeing to meet near
the entrance of the canon at noon and COM
pare notes. Thirty minutes had hardly
elapsed when Richards heard the report of
a rifle (his comrade's), and almost imme
diately afterward another shot rang out,
instantly followed by third. Thinking
he had struck nest of deer, Richards
hastened forward and found his partner
standing over the carcasses of two deer,
with wounded mountain lion holding him
at bay, and his gun some twenty feet dis
tant lying on the ground. How Craig
ever foolishly parted with his gun the res
cuer never stopped to inquire, but while
Craig stood facing the lion with long
bowie knife in his hand Richards hastily
raised his piece and fred at the brute.
With scream of pain the animal vaulted
in the air straight at Craig, but miscalcu-
lating the distance, passed at least three
feet beyond. Fortunately the man lodged
and the animal kept on leaping, soon disap-
pearing from sight. It was narrow es-
cape, but it was clean one, and it may be
truly said that both men were thankful for
the small favor.
Dropping the deer, the hunters set out
after the lion, whose trail was made plain
by the spots and drippings of blood The
spoor was easily followed, for, though clus-
ters of pines were here and there, the
ground was destitute of grass or under
brush, and the great jets of blood spurted
all over the ground and on the fallen logs
told that the beast was badly wounded and
walking slowly. After proceeding mile
they spied the fellow about 200 yards ahead
standing still and intently licking his
wounds. On sighting them he majestically
lashed his tail from side to side, for all the
world like domestic cat in rage; but
just as the rifles were brought to bear on
him, whisk out of sight he went, and
neither of the hunters could tell what had
become of him. Cautiously they recon-
noitered, examining the trees above, for
perchance the agile climber might be roost-
ing on some limb ready for spring down
ward. They found pool of blood where
he had stood mending his wound, and from
there the trail led in spots again up a short
hill, down the other side into the bed of a
ravine, where he had evidently stopped
moment to drink and cool his bleeding
fracture or fractures. Straight into the
mouth of the canon he led the hunters,
and after following mile into the depths
and darkness Of this awful mountain rent,
coming to pile of moss-covered rocks,
there lay the mountain lion not fifty yards
distant, crouched on the ground with his
head between his paws.
For moment they thought him dead,
but when the monster raised his head,
glared at them angrily, and then emitted
an ominous growl, there was no mistaking
his intentions had the beast strength and
power sufficient left u get back at them.
Both men cautiously and slowly raised
their rifles, aimed carefully at the lions
head, and at the word pulled off together.
The animal did not jump or make any
more fuss; he simply rolled over, stretched
out his limbs, worked his ugly and sharp
claws moment or two, and gave up the
ghost without another protest. He was q
male adult of full size, measured III feet
in the clear, and had jaw on him that was
capable of crushing an OK. His skin was
in beautiful condition, being a bright brown
on the back and rump, but fading away
into soft white brown toward the sides,
and becoming a pure and spotless white
under the belly.
The CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF MAN.